Fishing unfamilar lakes

[guilford]

I would like to hear how everyone goes about fishing an unfamilar body of water. starting points and such.

[farmpond1]

Well, generally, I back my boat into the lake (any lake), fire up the motor, and drive to the opposite shore where I fish the whole day.  Just kidding. 

I think the reason you're getting few responses is because your question is (or can be) so broad and all encompasing.  I think most folks aren't willing to bite off that much.  There are a number of good articles on this site if you look for them.  For this topic, perhaps the best source is under "For Beginning Anglers."

[Gatorbassman]

Putting time of year and map study aside, the first thing I do when I get to a new lake is look at is the color of the water. This helps me determine what color lures I will use. Then focusing on the river channel I will hit points and humps that are closest to the channel. Then I will go into pocket and creek arms that are associated with the outside bend in a river channel and work primary and secondary points all the way back. The whole time I'm using some type of search bait like a spinnerbait, crankbait, fluke, buzzbait. I make as many casts as I can. A huge thing I pay attention to is what is following my lure as I bring it to the boat. If I see a bass following it I know there are some in the area. Now I will slow down and grab a jig or a T-Rigged soft plastic and work the area over. Trying to figure out what mood the fish are in and at what depth they are hold to. That's the basics in a nutshell

[Raul]

What I love about the place I live is that I have the blessing of having a quite large assortment of different environments where to fish, from the wood choked bowl shape form of La Sauceda to the strip pit like configuration of La Laborcita and Otates, everything else in my neck of the woods is in between those extremes. I know where to find the fish in all of them so whenever I fish a completely new place the first thing I do is to study the lake as a whole and in parts: this part looks like this part of ....., this part looks like that part of .... and so on. Once I have categorized I 'm ready to fish, bass are bass everywhere, what attracts them in lake A will attract them in lake X, what attracts them in lake B will attract them in lake X. So now instead of trying to find them in all the extension I have reduced the search area to a lot fewer spots that I can work more in depth and thoroughly.

There 's a starting point, study, analize and categorize what you see.

[whoopbazz]

Basically, if I have (had) no map, I look for areas of the lake that remind me of another lake that I fish. Taking into account time of year and water conditions.

Also look for types of structure you feel good about fishing, docks, points, blow downs, weeds whatever.

[WRB]

Think in terms of a learning experience and enjoy your time fishing new water.

I like to break down the calendar year into; winter, spawn:pre & post, summer and fall. Depending on the seasonal period will determine where I will start. The colder periods the dam area and deeper areas, warmer periods cover and near shore structure, then working outside deeper areas.

Study a map, high light the water depth you like to fish; 3' to 20' for example and look for sharp breaks and isolated flat area near the sharp breaks. This will usually reduce your search area and you can fish lures, cover and structure that you are familiar with.

When I get to the new lake, I will check around the launch ramp marina area; water temperature, depth of bait fish or thermocline, water clarity, color and get a feel for the lake before starting out to fish. Many times the marina area is very productive and you can learn a lot about a lake. Stop at a local tackle store and ask some questions about what is good and where to fish.

WRB

[boneil]

with no info, I would idle around surveying the shore and watch my electronics looking for structure.

[Catt]

My first consideration is what was the weather conditions for the last 3-5 days, what is the current weather conditions, and what will be weather conditions be for the next 3-5 days. Armed this little bit of information I can determine the approximate location of the bait fish, type of structure I should to target, and the expected mood of the bass.

[fishfordollars]

I launch the boat, turn on all electronics and idle. As soon as I determine the depth of the bait showing on the units. I pull out the maps and find a creek or two, and a couple of flats at that dept.